Hey, guys. I'll be trying to write both this story and the other story that I'm already writing; I'll try my best to keep both of them up. Disclaimer: I do not own CATS!

"Etcy! Etcy Etcy! Wake up! Exciting news!"

"Huh…? No… Let me sleep…"

"Etcy! No! You want to hear this, you sleepyhead!"

"'Lectra… I was trying to kiss a tom in my dream and you woke me up… Just five more minutes…"

"Uggh! Well, I was hoping I didn't have to do this, but…!" Electra grabbed her half-awake, half-asleep friend's petite shoulders and almost insanely shook them back and forth.

"Uggh…! You made me feel like there's a bulldozer going over us…"

"Exactly. Now, if you still don't wake up, then I'll have to…"

No! Not that! "Okay! I'm awake!"

"Finally!"

"Great, 'Lectra. I was having the best dream in my life, and you woke me up…" complained Etcetera, tiredly rubbing her slumberous eyes.

"Well, I'm sure you want to wake up to hear this! Guess what, guess what, guess what? Guess what happened!" Electra managed to say between enormous smiles. Her face was red from excitement; her whiskers couldn't stay still for even a single second due to her heavy panting; overall, she seemed only an inch away from jumping up and down.

"What…? Something great enough to force a dear friend out of sleep…?"

"Yes! It's that important! Well… to me. 'Cause… Mungojerry asked me out!"

"What?" Etcetera jumped and almost hit the ceiling of the den. "You mean…"

"Yes! Mungojerry explicitly told me last night that he wanted to go out with me, for real!" Electra cried out in excitement, her eyes shimmering like two of the brightest starts that come out at night.

"'Lect! This is like… crazy! Congrats, queen!"

"Thanks! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I'm like really hyper right now, Etcy! It's as if all of my blood veins are jumping up and down! Oh my goodness, Etcy! This is like… a story or something!

"Okay, okay. 'Lectra, you gotta calm down first! Here; inhale, exhale…" Etcetera said, giving a calming gesture with her front paws.

"What's all the chattering and screaming for…?" murmured a young voice by the door.

"Oh my gosh, Jem! Guess what happened! Mungojerry asked me out!" squealed Electra, actually jumping up and down at this point.

"W… wait! What?" And then, Jemima probably forgot about any decorum or dignity: She sprinted full speed toward her friend and hugged her tight (perhaps even tighter than that of a bear), almost knocking her down with the momentum.

"'Lect, you're not kidding, right? You mean, a tom asked you out?" Jemima asked, she, too, panting.

"Yes! Mungojerry – like really – did!" cried out Electra.

"It's like all young queens' dream to be asked out by a tom!" said Etcetera with a purr.

"I know, I know. Oh, this is awesome. I'm really… so happy right now, and… Oh, wait. Oh… Guys… I'm sorry if I was too hyper… since I know you two still… uh… you know… still… don't have… ahem…"

"Oh, it's fine!" answered Jemima. "We'll get our toms someday, too. We're just happy for you right now!"

"Awww. Thanks, you two! I was just afraid I was insulting you two…" said Electra, her smile having changed from that of excitement to simple appreciation.

"No problem," smiled Etcetera.

"And guys, I know how some of the grown-ups think that Mungo is like a total badass or something, but he's actually really sweet! He actually gave me a flower necklace that he made," purred Electra.

"Can we see it?" the two other cats asked in unison.

"Well… He then took it back since he had something to fix," Electra replied.

"Awww! That's still so cute of him!" squealed Jemima.

"I know! He can be the cutest tom sometimes!" Electra exclaimed. "He really has a caring heart if you dig deeper than the troubles he makes. Hey, do you guys think he and I'll be okay together?"

"I'm sure you two will be great, I'm sure…" answered Etcetera, "I'm very sure…"

"Thanks, Etcy!" Electra smiled.

"So… when are you and Mungo actually going to go out?" asked Jemima.

"Hmm. Good question. I mean, he asked me out, but we didn't decide on the exact date. Hmm. He and I'll have to think about that. But just thinking about it makes my heart feel like exploding! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh…"

Etcetera sniffed the cool air. What a contrast it made to the warmth of the den that she was in that morning. The cool breeze was always a herald of the coming rain, shaking up the leaves of the trees as if making a trumpet call for the approaching precipitation. There weren't many cats who seemed to like rain; no, many of them abhorred even the very idea of any water touching their bodies. In this case, Etcetera was an exception. She somehow anticipated for rain, always yearning for a day when she could dance in the pouring rain, all by herself, without the fear of being scolded by Munkustrap, Alonzo, or any of those half-martinets…

"Oh, Etcy! Don't you think it's so cute?"

"Excuse me, Jem?"

"I mean, 'Lectra and Mungo. Wouldn't they be the cutest couple?" asked Jemima with a gigantic smile.

"I know. They really would be cute. By the way, Jem, you're blushing!" Etcetera laughed.

"Oh my… Am I…?"

"Why, is it because you have a tom who you want to be asked out by?" suggested Etcetera with a naughty grin.

"Uh… well…"

"Oh, so you do have a crush, Jem, don't you…?"

"Well… A half-crush, maybe. Wait, no! Maybe not even that! Maybe… I just want to be friends with him…"

"Ooh. Can you tell me his name?" Etcetera asked.

"No!" cried Jemima, although laughing. "I mean… It's private, you know…"

"I see…" Etcetera acquiesced, deciding not to ask any further. She knew from previous experiences that trying to excavate too much of personal businesses never bring forth pleasurable results.

"Thanks," smiled Jemima.

"But may I ask you one thing?"

"What is it?"

"Jem… You still think that we're going to get toms, too, right?" asked Etcetera, her voice gradually becoming softer.

"Of course! I'm sure! Why? Are you jealous… of her?" suggested Jemima, looking around to make sure that Electra wasn't around.

"No! Never! Why would I? She's my friend, and I really am happy for her!"

"Right. Then… what's the problem…?"

"I mean… We gotta admit she is really lucky, right?"

"Well… I suppose she is…" Jemima quietly agreed. "But it doesn't mean she doesn't deserve it."

"Jem, I'm not like… I'm jealous or anything. It's just… she really is lucky, compared to us…" Etcetera said, at the same time hoping that she wasn't crowning herself as a gossip queen.

"Etcy, I personally don't think we're any less lucky then her. I mean… the more we wait, the better the toms who come."

"I guess you're right."

"Plus, we can learn from what 'Lectra's doing in her relationship. If she does something good, we can learn from it for the future. If she does something that… uh… can be improved, then we can still learn from that, too," Jemima said.

"Oh, Jem! You sound so much more mature than me!" cried Etcetera.

"No, it's just… I don't know. But don't you feel sad or depressed that you don't have a tomfriend, Etcy. The longer you wait for a tom, the better. Kinda like cheese."

"That's an interesting comparison, Jem," commented Etcetera, giggling. "I never thought of it that way…"

"It's true, you know; that's what toms and cheese have in common. I think Vicky told me that one…" Jemima said, looking into the air so as to try to remember exactly.

"I can't believe she's already mated, you know – Vicky. She seemed so young like us, and the next day, she's open… to another world…" sighed Etcetera. "I mean, I'm still thankful she didn't abandon us and that she still hangs out with us often, but…"

"And that's why I want you to take your time, Etcy. So that you can spend more time with your friends," Jemima said with a grin.

Etcetera simply laughed at this. I guess that's why many cats call you innocent, Jem…

Please, comment and criticize! All criticisms are welcome (and needed)!